
Soothing your baby
Soothing your baby
Chewing and sucking – great ways of exploring the world!
It is in your womb that your baby starts to suck her thumb and, when out in the big wide world, suckling and sucking seem to soothe and comfort her. When put to bed, she will often chew on her pyjamas or hands or perform other actions to help her fall asleep more peacefully before turning to her thumb or blanket.
Over the months, these small habits become a way for your baby to explore the world around her. Your baby will start to experience textures, smells and tastes by putting objects into her mouth. This is what specialists call the “oral stage”.
Thumbs to satisfy that urge to suck
Your baby will suck on her thumb whenever she feels the need, often to replace your breast between feeds. The advantage of the thumb is that your baby will never lose it, nor will it fall out of her mouth at 3 o’clock in the morning and start a crisis that Mum and Dad will need to spend a ridiculous amount of time and umpteen lullabies to soothe. As your baby starts to crawl and grab hold of everything, she will need both hands and will naturally stop sucking on her thumb.
Security blanket – a window to the world
Specialists refer to the security blanket as a “transitional object”. Around the 8th month, sometimes even a little earlier, your baby’s sense of independence will start to develop and she will understand that her parents are not always there. This can be the moment when she finds a security blanket, a means of defence against anxiety. It will help ease the transition between dependence on parents and independence.
Teddy bears or scarves scented with Mum’s perfume are familiar objects around the home that she can use – it’s even better if they have her own smell. These objects will help console your baby in emotional situations – absence from parents, starting at the nursery, visiting the doctor or when she is ill.
Unfortunately, your baby may not always pick out the cleanest and most beautiful teddy bear from her collection, and may well choose a rag or “smelly” pillow. Once your baby has her favourite item in her arms, she will feel stronger and confident of facing the day’s challenges.
Related articles

First Words And Language Development
Hearing your little one say their first word makes you tingle with emotion and pride! How can you help baby through these amazing changes?
4 mins to read

How much sleep does my baby need?
As a new parent, your baby’s sleeping habits are probably one of the first things you talk about with other new moms and dads. Here’s a rough guide of what to expect.
1 min to read

Exercise with toddlers: Clever mom hacks for hectic lives
Some days, the last thing you probably feel like doing is exercise—particularly if you’ve had a sleepless night. But keeping active can do wonders for your physical and mental health.
2 mins to read

Signs of A Weakened Immune System & How You Can Help Your Child
A strong immune system is the key for a healthy growing child. It gives them that extra protection to go on with their daily playtime.
4 mins to read

Signs your newborn’s hungry and signs he’s full
When it comes to feeding your baby, how will you know when to start and when to stop? Simple—he’ll tell you.
5 mins to read

Baby Babble - What Does It Mean?
Whether your baby is pedaling joyfully with their hands and feet, beaming from ear to ear, or crying as hard as they can in bed, they are obviously trying to tell you something. But what?
3 mins to read

Top 3 tummy troubles in babies
Because babies are born with immature digestive systems, they may experience episodes of colic, constipation, or spit-up during their first months.
3 mins to read

Working mom woes? Follow our tips for going back to work after a baby
If your family finances demand that you’re to become a working mom, you’re more than likely planning your return to work while navigating a rollercoaster of emotions—from feeling guilty and anxious
3 mins to read

Overfeeding newborn: look out for the signs
Did you know? Your baby was born with the natural ability to eat when he’s hungry and stop when he’s full.
2 mins to read

How Can I Make Sure My Baby Sleeps Well?
The question on every new mom's mind is "when will my baby sleep through the night?" There are some tips to help!
5 mins to read

Baby Cruising - Milestones
By now your little one is likely to have started to get the hang of crawling, and is probably well on her way to cruising.
2 mins to read

How to be a confident parent: start today with six easy steps
Becoming a new parent, and bringing your newborn home, is the most daunting experience to navigate.
4 mins to read

Best way to do tummy time for newborn
Tummy time can start soon after you bring your baby home from the hospital. Just don’t expect too much. At first your newborn will struggle to lift her head even a tiny bit while on her stomach.
3 mins to read

Discover Your Child’s Allergy Risk
What is an allergy?
3 mins to read

Finding a sleep schedule that works for you and your toddler
“How do I get my toddler to sleep?” is an age-old, universally asked question. Find out how other parents are doing it across the globe.
6 mins to read

Six easy ways to deal with judging parents
Feel like you’re the victim of mom shaming or mom judging? It’s tough being a new mom, let alone if you feel like you’re under attack from parental criticism.
3 mins to read

The importance of healthy sleep habits for your baby
Did you know? Getting your baby into good sleep habits now can affect her sleep as she grows up.
2 mins to read

Getting baby’s nursery ready
Preparing the baby’s nursery is a fun job to do before your bundle of joy arrives. Here’s a baby nursery list to help get them settled in at home.
2 mins to read

What is mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammatory condition of the breast. It can happen when milk stays in your breast too long, or from infection in your breast.
3 mins to read